Scala dei Turchi (Stair of the Turks)

By Robert Kovacs, Coordinating teacher: Tamara Motorga, School: Samuil Vulcan National College

     The Scala dei Turchi is a rocky cliff on the coast of Realmonte, near Porto Empedocle, in the southern Sicily, Italy.

It has become a tourist attraction due to its unusual white color, as well as by its mention in Andrea Camilleri's series of detective stories about Commissario Montalbano.

     The origin of the name comes from the many invasions of Turkish pirates and the "stairs" are formed by eroded Marl, clay and silt similar to calcite and limestone. When visiting Scala dei Turchi, hike down one of a few steep sandy trails that lead to a beach full of bars and tourists covered in wet Marl, hoping to glow from the benefits it supposedly contains for the skin. Beach-goers that are not taking part in the natural mud bath can be seen jumping off of the cliffs and rocks, and into the deep, buoyant water of the warm Mediterranean.

     I visited the Scala dei Turchi (“Stair of the Turks”) with our local College, on an European Project, called Erasmus ,“What’s news on the news”.It is a beautiful place, full of history and the shine from the Mediteranean sun.